SB 1161 Summary

• Establishes an irrebuttable presumption that certain cancers in firefighters and peace officers are occupational diseases arising from employment if specified conditions are met.

• For firefighters and peace officers: presumption applies to brain, bladder, rectal, colon cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, adenocarcinoma, and mesothelioma of the respiratory tract.

• For firefighters only: presumption also applies to buccal cavity, pharynx, esophagus, large intestine, lung, kidney, prostate, skin, stomach, testicular cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and malignant melanoma.

• Requires claimants to have passed a pre-employment physical without cancer evidence, been assigned to hazardous duty for at least 5 years, and received appropriate occupational medical exams (NFPA 1582 standard for firefighters).

• Applies to current employees and former firefighters/peace officers diagnosed within 15 years of retirement if age 65 or younger; does not apply to respiratory cancers if tobacco exposure outside employment was a substantial contributing cause.